Kenner City Councilman Joe Stagni admitted today that he sent a picture of himself in his underwear to a city employee 18 months ago and that the image ended up on a city computer server.

City of KennerThis photo was found in Kenner computer records, attached to a Dec. 23, 2009, text message from City Councilman Joe Stagni's phone to internal auditor Annamaria Pizzolato with the subject line "I'm n trouble-serious conversation wwife."

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"I had an inappropriate but consensual relation (sic) with an adult female and we exchanged improper electronic communications which ended (in) 2009," Stagni, 47, said in a prepared statement.

Stagni's personal smartphone was used to send a text message and the picture to Annamaria Pizzolato, who was Kenner's internal auditor at the time, according to city records. The message, dated Dec. 23, 2009, had the subject line: "I'm n trouble - serious conversation wwife."

"I do not know how a communication appeared on any public transmission or equipment," Stagni said.

Pizzolato forwarded the image to the work e-mail account of Danna Morris, who was Kenner's information technology director at the time, according to records released Monday by City Hall.

"Once you do that, it's stuck in the city server," said city attorney Keith Conley, who released the image as part of a public records request. He said it is the only such image that he knows about.

Morris and her husband, Mason Morris, a senior systems specialist in her department, abruptly resigned in April 2010 amid an investigation of computer irregularities. Mayor Mike Yennifired Pizzolato in September.

Joe Stagni

Stagni, who is married and has two children, wouldn't say to whom he sent the image.

The remainder of his statement follows:

"I asked for God's mercy and forgiveness. I apologized to my wife and family and asked for their forgiveness as well. My actions and bad judgment had nothing to do with my duties and responsibilities as a public official. They were private acts, but I take full responsibility for my irresponsible behavior. This matter has been a painful experience for my family and I pray that everyone will allow our family to continue to heal. I am sorry."